Watch-chain fastener



Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES YAICHIRO SHTBA, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

WATCH-CHAIN ras'rnnnn.

Application filed July 25, 1925.. Serial No. 45,961.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, YAioinno SHIBA, a sulnect of the Emperor of Japan, residing at San Jose, in the county ofSanta Clara,

State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVatch-Chain Fa steners, of which. the following is a. specification. v I

This invention relates to a novel and convenient means for locking a vest pocket or other type of watch chain soQthat said chain and watch will be safeguarded against theft and the watch and chain prevented from falling from the wearer to which it' isattached. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive clasp which is adapted to look over and on one of the buttons of a vest and which is carried by a watch chain, said clasp not only serving to effectively lock. the chain in place and making it unnecessary to insert the chain through the button-hole as is the common practice, but serving as an ornament as well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watch chain locking device of the character described which may be incorporated with a chain as a link thereof and which may be quickly and easily placed and locked upon and removed from a vest button.

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without de arting from the s irit or sacrificing any 0 the advantages 0 the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a top. plan view of the lock of the invention showing a part of the chain with which it is incorporated and the lock in position as when locked on a button, which latter is shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view taken through the lock.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of a slightly modified form of lock, shown on a button, illustrated in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 represents a vertical sectional view of the lock shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of the form. of lock shown in Fig. 3 illustrating the manner of attaching the lock to a button.

Fig. 6 represents a vertical. sectional view of the form of lock shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the lock being in open position.

Fig. 7 represents a front elevation of the lock and chain showing it as .it would appear when in use attached to the vest ofthe wearer.

The lock of this invention comprises a disk or pla-te like body portion 1, in the present instance of circular form, provided on opposite sides with eyes 2 and 3 to which the sections 4 and are attached. The chain shown more particularly in Fig. 7 is of the type to be worn in vest pockets although the lock of the invention may be used with other styles of chain. The bodyportion 1 is provided with a bifurcated claspG on the rear face thereof, which clasp is formed integral with the flange 7 extending part way of the circumference of the body. The terminals of the clasp are enlarged and rounded as at 8 so that ready and easy attachment of the lock may be effected and the enlarged end will provide for an effective clamping or looking action.

To attach the lock, the bifurcated clasp 6 is slipped behind the button so that the body portion 1 will extend over and conceal. the button. The flange 7 is curved in cross section so that it will extend over the rear face of the button and thereby assist in holding the lock on the button. The outer face of the body plate of the lockmay be decorated as desired to make the lock ornamental as well as useful.

With the lock in place as shown in Fig. 7 it is unnecessary to insert the chain through the button-hole as is the common practice, and not only is the chain and watch or other device attached to the chain, such as a knife, trinket or charm, safeguarded against theft but should the wearer stoop over, the chain with the articles attached thereto will not drop off of the vest even though the watch and articles on the other end of the chain might fall from the pockets. The device may be quickly and easily placed upon and removed from the button but is securely held against accidentalv displacement. Some force is required to remove the lock 'lromthebutton so th-atthe wearer will readily detect an unauthorized operation of removing the lock.

In Figs. 3 and (5 inclusive, the nodilied "form of lock comprises a circular disk-like body portion 9 having eyes 10 and 11 on opposite sides, to which eyes the sections 12 of the chain are attached. Thebody portion of this lock is provided with a curved flange 1 extending substantially halt way around ,he ieriphery oi thebody. :Pivoted centrally as/at l-ilon the rear face of the body 9, is a circular locking disk l5 having a segmental pocket 16 whielntogether with the flange 1.3, provides for completely encompassing a button so that it is impossible to remove the lock without turning the body 9 and disk 15 relative to one another.

As shown in Fig. 5 the lockingdisk 15 withthe pocket 16 is moved into position-in registration with the flange 13 so that the lock may be slipped over a button. Following the movement otthe locleover a button so that halt oltbe button extends into the pocket 16, the dish/l5 is turned-to bring the peel-(ct so as to receive the opposite side of the button to that received in the curved flange l3 and'the lock and chain are securely held on the button. To remove the lock, it is only necessaryto grasp the chain adjacent the eyes and move theeyes downward and the button may be slipped out of the pocket 16. v

The device of this invention may be incorporated with any style of link chain in the same manneras a link is attached to a chain, it being preferably attached centrally oi? the ends of the chain. The lock: is small and may be easily and cheaply made. If

desired the outer face of the lock may be decorated so that the lock will serve as a watch ch a rm. or ornament.

[. claim:

1. A lock tor watch chains comprising a circular body member adapted to be extended over the front of a vest button. which member is provided, with eyes on opposite sides so that it may be incorporated with a watch chain between the ends of the latter,

curved in cross section so as.to extend behind the button and means on the back of the body for clasping the body to a button, which means comprises a dislerotatably mounted on the loodyhaving a segmental button receiving out therein adapted to receive a button.

YAICPIIRO SI-IIBA. 

